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Pilot from Iowa stumbles on ancient Egyptian drawings

Posted: Thursday, June 08, 2000

By Mae GhalwashAssociated Press

AIN SOKHNA ROAD, Egypt -- Archaeologists aren't exaggerating when they say ancient treasures abound in the sands of Egypt. So many, in fact, that even a pilot from Iowa, out on a desert outing, can make a notable discovery: cave drawings that could date back thousands of years before the birth of Christ.

George Cunningham was in the desert 25 miles southeast of Cairo looking for fossilized sea urchins, shells and plants -- a favorite hobby -- when he spotted ''an interesting looking wall'' late last month.

On Wednesday, Cunningham led Egyptian scholars to the site to investigate the find -- a sort of cave in a limestone hill.

''We were astounded that this wall was there and that we had never seen it,'' said Cunningham, of Algona, Iowa, who has worked in Cairo for 212 years as a helicopter pilot trainer for an oil company.

He is a frequent visitor to the stretch of desert where he made the discovery.

The cave drawings appear to be from three eras, according to Egyptian experts. The earliest, which could date back to 7000-6500 B.C., are hunting scenes: men and women carrying bows alongside what appear to be dogs or wolves.

A later drawing appears to be religious: two gods or goddesses in an arch alongside three shapely women -- probably goddesses as well. It could date to the early Pharaonic dynastic period, around 3,000-2500 B.C., the experts say.

From yet another era comes writing that includes hieroglyphic elements, like a primitive version of an eye of Horus.

Specialists speculate that it could represent a transition between languages, either before or after hieroglyphics.

Cunningham shared photos of his find with several friends, including a diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, who sent them to Gaballah Ali Gaballah, the director of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.

That led to Wednesday's visit by some 15 archaeologists, who fanned out around the cave pointing out the different symbols.

Exclamations of ''fascinating'' and ''it must be excavated'' punctuated their talk -- as well as a cautious: ''This is all speculation.''

The researchers declined to make any evaluations Wednesday, saying they needed time to excavate the site and study the drawings.

But Mohammed el-Saghir, head of the Pharaonic and Greco-Roman sector of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, who did not accompany the team but saw photos earlier, says he is certain the find is of value.

Archaeologists have found similar drawings in caves in southern Egypt. But, says el-Saghir, this may be the first time such etchings have been found in northern Egypt.

If anything, it could help mark the route that Stone Age nomads took from southern Egypt to the Nile Valley to settle in what is now Ma'adi, a posh Cairo suburb, el-Saghir said.

Those Bedouin later became the Ma'adi civilization, established around 3200 B.C., about 1,000 years before the Early Dynastic Period.

''I was just very happy that I knew enough people to bring this to the attention of the authorities and preserve it,'' a beaming Cunningham said.